Ignition assembly



March l, 932. RABEZZANA 1,847,899

IGNITION ASSEMBLY Filed July 17. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gfvvento/v iwf fma@ en/Umm, WML/f Grammy March 1, 1932. H, RABEZZANA IGNITION ASSEMBLY 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1929 `somewhat modified form.

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those leads, forshielding the high tension portion of the ignitionsystem, wholly or in part, which shielding is 'of particular importancein the case of aeroplanes or motorv vehicles equipped with radioreceiving sets. The invention also aims to improve the appearance of thepower plant. Other-objects and advantages will be understood vfrom thefollowing description.

ln the drawings, Flgure 1 isa view in'end elevation of an engine`.equipped with my invention, the view being broken away and 2'0/ partlyin section.

Fi re 2 is a transverse section, the coil being s own in elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view. Figure 4 is a view in side levation.

Figure 5 represents a sectional view of a l Figure`6 is a transversesectional view of the further modification.

ated with driven mechanism. At 9. is shown one ofthe usual series ofspark plu s, the '.35

spark plug bein shown as positione with- 1n the contour o the engine andenclosed by "a cover 1-1. 'In addition to excluding dust,

y moisture and oil, this cover shields the spark tension currents cannottransmit electrical energy in a way to interfere with the radioreceiving set' carried by the vehicle. This cover also shields apart ofthe high tension leads extending to the'spark plugs as will be seen froman inspection of ,Figur-e1. The

ignition system employs agenerator 12, a contact breaker 13, for the lowpotential current and a coil 15. The primary coil winding is ,suppliedby a battery, as usual, and represented conventionally by numeral 17.The

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secondary current of the coil supplies the 'spark plug leads through adistributor. In

'accordance with the vusual practice a driven shaft operates the breakerdevice and the distributor, the breaker device and the distributorusually constituting lone unit and fref quently mounted adjacent thegenerator. With this conventional arrangement-a somewhat longlelectrical leadA extends from the secondary winding of the coil to thedistribu-A tor and a group of wires extend from the-distributorto theseveral spark plugs. The appearance is far` from neat. At presentattempts arebeing made to cleanup the appearance` of the engineaccessories and my improved ignition system goes a long way toward thatend. lt alsopkeeps out dust, oil and moisture from the parts of thissystem.- It reduces capacity losses and shields the whole secondarysystem.

In -making the improvement the breaker f devicev may be separated fromthe distributor and it may be as shown `in the drawings located adjacentthe generator as is common` ly done since in thisposition drivemechanism is accessible. Secured within the cover -11 by fastening means21 is a bakelite Strip23 extending lengthwise along't-he engine block'.

The ignitionwires may bein 'the form of uninsulated wires imbedded inthebakelitc strip as'shown at 22. From the imbedded wires light spriiigs 25may extend .to make contact with the several spark plugs. If it bedesired to vomit the bakelite strip, insulated wires, as usual, may beused within the cover. and secured thereto. Carried by the cover 11 and'mounted 'on an outward extension of the bakelite strip, when such astrip is used, plugs so that the parts thereof carrying higlris the coil15. A secondary winding of the lcoil has a terminal 27 engaging arotatable plate 29 carried by an insulating member 31. This member 31 ismounted on end 33 of a vrotor 3'5 journalled within stem 37. To the stem37 is secured as by a cap 39 a flexible shaft housing 41. Within thlshousing is a fieXible drive shaft 44 rigidly fixedwith'the rotor 35. Theshaft 44 with its housing 41 for rotating shaft 44 may be taken from anyconvenient part of the driven mechanism of the engine. The several sparkplug leads 22 terminate in contact points 43 which are engaged'insequence by rotating member 29; these parts constituting thedistributor.

By the arrangement described above, including the location of the coil15 and the distributor, the high tension system from the .coil throughthe distributor to the plugs is greatly reduced in length with aconsequent avoidance of loss of capacity.1 The major parts of the leadsWithin the cover are shielded whereby interference With radio receivingsets is avoided and the appearance'is greatly improved. The collectionof leads extending from the distributor to the plugs is done away With.In the act of assembling the cover and the bakelite strip the springarms 25 firmly contact with the several plugs and no trouble occurs suchas is commonly the case due to breaks in the insulation 0f the leads ormisplaced cablesi The coil positioned as it is on the bakelite stripserves as a convenient cover for the distributor. In the event that evenmore complete shielding be desired, the expedient shown in Figure 5 maybe adopted. In this' form in addition to the features already describedthe bakelite strip is itself covered With a metallic coating as byplating with copper for example. By this provision a complete shieldingof the high tension Isystem Vis effected.

Figure 6 shows a simplified form in which the invention `may beembodied. Here a cover 11` carries secured thereto a bakelite strip 23by `fastening means 21. In this bakelitel strip are imbedded hightension leads as before with resilient contact members 25 for engagingthe spark plugs 9. This simple form-effectively improves the appearanceof the engine and furnishes a ready and convenient Way of assembling andremoving the high tension system. It also serves efiiciently to shieldthe larger part of the high tension system although the idea is not asfully de- 4veloped as inthe form shown in the other figures. l

I claim:

1. In an ignition system for engines', having sparkplugs, a cover forsaid spark plugs, a strip of insulating material supported on saidcover, high tension leads imbedded in said strip, and resilient contactmembers carried by said strip in electrical contact with said leads andpositionedto firmly Contact said plugs when the cover is placed inposition, together With a distributor carried by and within said strip,and means driven by theengine for operating said distributor.

2. An ignition system for multiple cylinder explosive engines comprisinga strip of insulating material, high tension leads imbedded therein,resilient spark plug contact members carried thereby, a distributorcarried by and within said strip, said distributor having a rotaryengine driven part, a coil positioned over said distributor and means tosecure said strip in position Whereby the several spark plug contactmembers engage the several spark plugs, said last named means being acover to enclose the engine spark plugs and the resilient contactmembers.

3. In an ignition system for engines having spark plugs, a shieldingcover for said plugsyastrip of insulating material secured.

to and Within said cover,vsaid strip of 1nsulating material having anextension outside

